Ruling delayed on accused killer dad's mental competency

Published: Friday, February 15, 2013 at 8:01 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, February 15, 2013 at 11:57 p.m.

A judge has delayed his decision on whether a Thibodaux man accused of decapitating his disabled son is fit to stand trial.

Jeremiah Wright, 31, is accused of beheading his disabled 7-year-old son Jori Lirette in 2011.

After a six-day hearing ended Feb. 4, state District Judge John LeBlanc of Thibodaux said he would make his decision two days later. He then sent a memo to employees within the Lafourche Parish Clerk of Court's Office, as well as prosecutors and defense attorneys, alerting them that he was deferring his decision until this past Wednesday.

The decision is still forthcoming, and LeBlanc has not alerted officials of when he will issue the decision.

LeBlanc declared him unfit to stand trial that same year, but last year, doctors at the mental hospital Wright was sent to announced that he was ready.

Wright's attorneys disputed that during the hearing. They asked that he be sent back to the state mental hospital in Jackson for more treatment aimed at making him competent to assist his attorneys and understand the legal proceedings.

<p>A judge has delayed his decision on whether a Thibodaux man accused of decapitating his disabled son is fit to stand trial.</p><p>Jeremiah Wright, 31, is accused of beheading his disabled 7-year-old son Jori Lirette in 2011.</p><p>After a six-day hearing ended Feb. 4, state District Judge John LeBlanc of Thibodaux said he would make his decision two days later. He then sent a memo to employees within the Lafourche Parish Clerk of Court's Office, as well as prosecutors and defense attorneys, alerting them that he was deferring his decision until this past Wednesday.</p><p>The decision is still forthcoming, and LeBlanc has not alerted officials of when he will issue the decision.</p><p>LeBlanc declared him unfit to stand trial that same year, but last year, doctors at the mental hospital Wright was sent to announced that he was ready.</p><p>Wright's attorneys disputed that during the hearing. They asked that he be sent back to the state mental hospital in Jackson for more treatment aimed at making him competent to assist his attorneys and understand the legal proceedings.</p>